Englishfor English speakers
associate
Verb
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If you associate two things, you think of them as being connected in some way.
People often associate Einstein with science, but he was also a man of peace.
I associate Thailand with spicy food and beautiful beaches.
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If you associate with someone else, you spend time with them.
Parents are often afraid of their children associating with the wrong group of friends.
associate
Noun
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An associate is somebody that you do business or work with.
I have an associate who might be interested in your product.
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An associate member, professor, producer, etc. is one who is connected but at a lower level.
She spent years as an associate professor before becoming a full professor in 1997.
contract
Noun
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A contract is a legal agreement to trade goods, services and/or property. It's usually written down.
If you would just sign this contract, the car will be yours.
In Japan, most worker’s employment contracts last until the age of sixty.
My father’s employment contract is for forty years.
You must look over the contract before you sign it.
contract
Verb
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If something contracts, it gets smaller.
As the wood dries out, it contracts.
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If you contract someone to do a job, you enter into a contract with them.
We've contracted a cleaning company to take care of the office.
When there's too much work, there are a number of small firms to which we will contract it out.
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If you contract a disease, you become sick with it.
It's hard to understand why people risk contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
He contracted the flu.
officer
Noun
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An officer is a person in an army who has much authority. A general and a captain are two types of officers.
A soldier must obey his commanding officer.
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An officer is a policeman, often called a "police officer." (Note, "officer" is often better than "policeman" because the officer could be a woman or a man.)
Officer, can you help me, I've been robbed.
The thief was taken to jail by the officers.
He was arrested for hitting an officer.
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An officer is someone who holds office (meaning, has authority).
The judge is an important officer of the court.
She is the chief executive officer, or CEO, for our company.